Effects of statistical similarity in Young's interference experiment

Abstract

Some new results are established on the condition that the fluctuating field at the pinholes in Young's interference experiment is statistically similar at a frequency ω0. It is shown that this condition ensures complete spectral coherence of the light in the plane of observation. Under this circumstance, the spectral degree of polarization and cross-polarization of the stochastic electromagnetic beam in the plane of observation are exactly the same as that in the pinholes. Furthermore, we derive a condition that ensures complete spatial coherence at the pinholes in the space–time domain.